Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology OIST

News

A photograph of an octopus sitting at the bottom of the tank, facing the camera with its eight arms curled around its body.

These arms are made for loving

Study discovers how octopuses use “taste by touch” sensory system to feel out potential mates.

Illustration of a polymerization reaction

Identifying the limits of protein evolution

Large-scale computational study describes limiting factors for protein evolution, highlighting unexplored protein design possibilities and origin of life insights.

Research Update

100 million years ago, an ‘evolutionary fuse’ was lit in the deep ocean, sparking squid diversification

New evolutionary mapping suggests deep sea origins and mass extinction triggered diversification of modern squid and cuttlefish.

Prof. Kenji Doya - The Tateishi Award Recipient

Institutional News

Prof. Kenji Doya receives 9th Tateishi Special Prize

The prize recognizes Doya’s outstanding achievements in advancing artificial intelligence, robotics and neuroscience

A graduate student received her certificate

Institutional News

Celebrating 37 New OIST PhD Graduates

OIST held its 8th Graduation Ceremony

Research and Faculty

OIST has no academic departments. Researchers from more than 50 countries collaborate across and combine scientific disciplines to pioneer new approaches to discovery and problem-solving.

Research at OIST

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Faculty and Research Units

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Research Events

07 - 10 Apr 2026

OIST Workshops

Ocean Dynamics and Turbulence

07 - 16 Apr 2026

Research

Mini Course: On the Tutte polynomial invariant for graphs and matroids

08 Apr 2026

Seminar

【Seminar】How synaptic plasticity regulates Intracellular Transport of AMPAR by Dr. Françoise Coussen

08 Apr 2026

Seminar

【Seminar】 Dynamic nanoscale organization of AMPAR control short and long term synaptic plasticity by Prof. Daniel Choquet

08 Apr 2026

Lecture

[Analysis and PDE Seminar] Stochastic Partial Differential Equations of Fluctuating Hydrodynamics

08 Apr 2026

Seminar

[Seminar] A structural journey through molecular life, death and design by Prof. Dr. Sebastian Hiller

Study at OIST

Apply for our 5-year PhD program in Science. We also offer short-term Research Internships. Both programs are competitive, cross-disciplinary, fully funded, and taught entirely in English by world-class international faculty.

Science Without Boundaries

A university with no departments, OIST has no artificial barriers between people working in different fields, thus encouraging innovation. With a state-of-the-art research environment, OIST attracts outstanding students and faculty around the world.

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PhD and Research Internship Program

OIST offers an individualized, cross-disciplinary PhD program that funds students up to 5 years. The Research Internship program offers financial and travel support for 2 to 6 months of experience working in an OIST research lab under OIST faculty.

Student Life

OIST offers a first-class postgraduate experience – both inside and outside the classroom. A wide range of educational, recreational, social, and cultural activities provide many opportunities to explore your passions and master something new.

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Driving Innovation Toward Impact

OIST connects world-leading research and global business to co-create solutions to society’s most pressing challenges – attracting talent to Okinawa’s emerging innovation ecosystem.